Squadron History

Attack Squadron 172 (VA-172) originally was established as Bomber Fighter Squadron 82 (VBF-82) on 20 August 1945 at NAS Alameda, California. The squadron quickly switched from F6F Hellcats to F4U-4 Corsairs, and in January 1946 moved to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island. In October 1946 the VBF-82 Checkmates made its first deployment to the Mediterranean on board the USS Randolph (CV- 15). The squadron was redesignated Fighter Squadron 18A (VF-18A) on 15 November 1946.

After four deployments with Corsairs on board the Randolph and the USS Coral Sea (CVB-43), VF-18A was redesignated VF-172 on 11 August 1948 and deployed on board the USS Midway (CVB-41) once before moving to NAS Cecil Field, Florida, in March 1949 and transitioning in June 1950 to the F2H-2 Banshee (after briefly operating the FH-1 and F2H-1).

After one Mediterranean cruise with the Banshees on board the Coral Sea, VF 172, now named the Blue Bolts, moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and deployed on board the USS Essex (CV-9), introducing the F2H into its first combat operations over Korea in August 1951.

After deployments on board the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA-42), the USS Wasp (CVA-18), and the USS Coral Sea, VF 172 was redesignated Attack Squadron 172 (VA-172) on 1 November 1955, switched to the new A4D-1 Skyhawk, and began a 13 year affiliation with Carrer Air Group One on board the Roosevelt. The squadron moved back to Cecil Field in February 1958 and transitioned to the A4D-2 in may 1958.

Between 1959 and 1968, VA-172 made seven Mediterranean deployments and occasionally operated detachments on board CVSs. In September 1961, VA-172 upgraded to the A4D-2N (A-4C). VA-172 entered combat over Vietnam in August 1966 from the Roosevelt, and after a Mediterranean deployment on board the USS Shangri-la (CVA-38) in 1969, returned to Vietnam on board the Shangri-la in March 1970. The Blue Bolts lost five A4Cs and five pilots to enemy action during both war cruises. VA-172 was disestablished on 15 January 1971.